Hiking

No other place in Norway has so many summits that tower more than 2,000 metres – 277 out of a total of 325 summits nationwide are found in the region.

The summits in Jotunheimen, Rondane and Dovrefjell are very popular destinations, and the routes to get there are well-adapted to those who prefer to walk, whether on their own or by joining an organized group hike.

The surroundings in Gudbrandsdalen may be both extreme and beautiful, but you do not necessarily have to tempt fate to have a breathtaking experience of the scenery around you. The entire area is criss-crossed with marked trails and roads for short or longer hikes, and there are routes with levels of difficulty adapted to all categories.

Many of the hotels, such as Venabu Fjellhotell and Gåla, offer organized trips for their guest. In addition you have the event supplier Norske Bygdeopplevelser who specializes in bicycle trips, rambling tours and ski tours. You can spice up some of their trips with unique cultural events and attractions.

A trip out of the ordinary, with Rondablikk Høyfjellshotell as starting point: Martin the lama and Vibeke, his keeper, offer short and long hikes in Kvamsfjellet where you can visit places such as a wilderness camp with spectacular views of the three national parks: Rondane, Jotunheimen and Dovre.

For tips on where to go hiking, please read Tour suggestions in the Gudbrandsdalen Valley.

Cycling

In the summertime, bicycling is one of the most pleasant activities in Gudbrandsdalen. If you go on a bike ride, you are able to cover great distances and experience beautiful scenery and cultural landscapes in a short amount of time.

Many kinds of bike trips are offered, including grand trips along pastoral mountain roads and mountain farm roads with little or no traffic. Trips in all categories are offered. There are trips for families with children as well as for active cyclists.

For tips on where to go cycling, please see Tour suggestions in Gudbrandsdalen.

Horse riding

Several hotels and riding centres offer hour-based, day, weekend and week-long trips as well as riding lessons to their guests and other visitors to the area.   

Horse keeping has rich traditions in Gudbrandsdalen. The Døla horse, also called the Horse of Gudbrandsdalen in the 1800’s, is the largest horse of Norway's national horse breeds. However, for riding, the Iceland pony or the Fjord horse are more commonly employed.

The region is excellent for riding and the horses enjoy the natural peace and quiet of the mountains.

Several stables and hotels offer courses and riding camps, ranging from one-hour classes to a week on a horse's back. Many of the stables are small operators, but the service and environment is all the more personal.

Riding is most frequently offered as a summer activity, but some stables are open and organize trips even in the winter season, for example Suleseter. Additionally, sleigh rides are very popular in the winter time.

Companies and hotels offering riding:

• Rondablikk Høyfjellshotell
• Venabu Fjellhotell
• Dalseter
• Wadahl

Hunting and fishing

Gudbrandsdalen is a paradise for people who like to go hunting and fishing. To many people, this is a three-in-one surprise: Real recuperation that offers possibilities for calm and contemplation, the excitement that precedes the moment in which the great fish bites, and last but not least, the experience of the scenery and surroundings.

There are numerous possibilities to go fishing in most rivers and mountain lakes, whilst the hunter can trace and find both small and big game.

Several proprietors have hunting ground and offer the right to go hunting and fishing, and these possibilities are accessible through easily obtained licenses.

The large river Gudbrandsdalslågen which flows through the valley and the Venaubu mountain both are excellent places to start your fishing experience in Gudbrandsdalen.

Fishing licenses and tips on the best spots are available from the tourist offices, sports stores, petrol stations and accommodation providers. Children aged 16 and under may fish free of charge. At some lakes, otter fishing is permitted.

Photography

Gudbrandsdalen is a photo enthusiast's paradise. Throughout the summer, Venabu Fjellhotell offers several courses aimed at anyone looking to improve their photography skills.

Rafting

Rafting is an alternative to those who look for speed and excitement in one adventure: Foaming waters, the exhilarating feeling in your stomach and a big smile painted across your face. Rafting is not just the adrenaline; it also involves experiencing the beauty of the scenery and the force of the wet element.

The Sjoa River has become a paradise for rafters, and it is counted among the very best rivers in the world for white water rafting. A two-figure number of companies offer rafting in Sjoa and its tributaries Ottaelven and Gudbrandsdalslågen, for example Sjoa Rafting and Heidal Rafting. Most of the companies offer supplementary adventures as well, such as wilderness camping and canyoning.

Rafting suits most people. The only requirement is some amount of courage and a willingness to take part in a new type of adventure. The participants' safety is of high priority and there are rigid safety requirements. All activities are supervised and led by highly experienced guides.

Companies offer rafting:

• Sjoa Rafting
• GoRafting
• Heidal Rafting

Visit a farm

An increasing number of farmers in Gudbrandsdalen invite tourists to cross their threshold, to give them an extraordinary peak into their homes. Such a visit provides a retrospective glance at daily life at a great farm in Gudbrandsdalen, and it also gives visitors a notion of how active and modern farming is conducted today.

Sygard Grytting, Per Gynt Gården and Vågå gardshotell are among those farms who invite invite their guests to share culinary experiences as well as tales of the past. The meal is crucial and is adapted to the environment, with only the best of locally-rooted, traditional foods and specialties.

Many cultural farms provide ongoing proof of the craft and building traditions of the past, and they offer accommodation combined with a range of cultural events.

You will find farm history and traditions that have been upheld through the generations, and you are given the opportunity to stay on unique farms in preserved, historic buildings. 

Several farms in all of Gudbrandsdalen – from Gausdal in the south, via Dovre in the north, to Skjåk in the west – have established a common event called Gardmillom (From farm to farm). This is an initiative where people are invited to share great meals, take part in different cultural activities, get a peek into farm life, and join in on celebrations and fun, all based on old traditions. The event lasts for ten days, the last ten days in July of every summer.

Rudi Gard is another farm who offers a wide range of events throughout the summer.